Friday, July 31, 2009

I have more to say about the whole HLG incident, but I don't feel like writing it all down right now.

What I do feel like doing is posting this hilarious e-trade video. You've probably already seen it (It was on during the Superbowl,) But it is worth watching twice.

Two reasons I like this video...

1) Cute talking babies. 'Nuff said.

2) I like that the black baby is singing what would be considered a "white" song and he's not using an obviously "black" voice (yo yo yo I'm a baby--wassup?!!!) Let me be clear that there is nothing wrong with liking black music or having a black voice. It's just nice to see another option it comes to people of color's portrayal in the media. We still have to deal with the ever present issue of the brown baby being the sidekick for the white baby, but we can work on that...right?

Wednesday, July 22, 2009

So my wonderful Aunt asked me what I thought about the Henry Louis Gates incident and since I want to maintain my most favored neice status, I figured I'd share my impressions. If you haven't heard, a brief rundown: Dr. Gates is black. He was returning from a trip to China to find that his front door was jammed. He and the guy that drove him from the airport tried to force the door open. One of his white neighbors saw Gates and the driver at the front door and called the police. When the police came the officer asked Dr. Gates to step outside. Dr. Gates refused and then ended up getting arrested for disorderly conduct. The charges have since been dropped.

First of all, I don't understand how you can be arrested for disorderly conduct for refusing to leave your own home. Especially when it is not a command from a cop. Sidenote: I realized something recently. When you get pulled over by the cops, they have questions and they have commands.

Questions:

Do you know how fast you were going?Do you know why I pulled you over?Have you been drinking tonight? Do you mind if I search your vehicle?

They are asking you all of these things as an attempt to get you to A) incriminate yourself or B) keep you from exercising your other very important constitutional rights.

Commands:

Step out of the car. Put your hands on your head. Open the door! It's the police! etc., etc., etc.

They can tell you to do these things because you're more than likely about to get your ass arrested. No more Mr. Nice Guy.

So if in fact Dr. Gates was asked to step outside of his house, he was within his rights to say no. And why did the cop refuse to give Dr. Gates his name and badge number? Shady. True, Dr. Gates was apparently giving the cop attitude talking about being a black man in America, but so what? He's in his own house getting hassled by the cops. And he just spent God knows how long on an overseas flight. International travel makes even the calmest individuals cranky.

I get that cops are supposed to get some level of respect and deference, but if you don't give it to them--does that mean they should be allowed to arrest you? I don't think so. And the fact that some of them will if you don't is a big reason why so many people hate cops.

So what do you think? Do you think the neighbor would have called the cops if it had been two white guys trying to force open the door? Do you think Dr. Gates would have been arrested if he had been more "cooperative?" Do you think he would have been arrested if he were white and was giving the cop lip? What do you think about him giving the cop 'tude in the first place? If you've got thoughts, I'd love to hear them.

Friday, July 10, 2009

Sooo...what's up with the term "anti-racist?" As far as I know, this is the most "with it" term to use when discussing yourself in relationship to racism and race relations. Not only are you not a racist yourself, you are so outraged by racism and it's practitioners that you must come out as soundly against it and all that it stands for.

Don't get me wrong: I get the sentiment, and I'm down with not being a fan of all things racism. But there are some things that I take issue with when it comes to the term "anti-racist," and I want to share them with you, my faithful readers.

In a nutshell, I think it's too negative. I am a big believer in the idea that "the things you focus your attention on grow." I think it's the counselor in me (:

To use my google image as an example: people in your life who spend a lot of time talking about stress--do they seem to be stressed or calm?

And the people who seem to be calm--what do they spend most of their time talking about-- stress? Or something else?

So by coming out and saying you are an "anti-racist" you're just giving your energy and attention to racists and racism, things you don't want. When instead you could be focusing your energy and attention on things you do want. So to all my anti-racists out there: What are you "Pro?" Love? Equality? Opportunity? Acceptance? Justice? Enquiring minds want to know...

Friday, July 03, 2009

Hola amigos. I know it's been a long time since I rapped at ya (bonus points for id'ing that semi-obscure pop culture reference,) but I'm back in business. I originally took my hiatus because I felt like I had a lot on my mind, and that I needed to give the blog a rest for awhile. I read a fair number of other blogs, and I would be surprised to occasionally see bloggers saying things like, "I think about this blog several times a day, wondering if what is happening is blog-worthy." Or, "Why do I think you care enough to know about [insert mundane topic here]" The response from me being, "Of course I care about [previously mentioned mundane topic] that's why I clicked on your blog, yo!"

But I noticed that as I started updating this blog everyday, that started to happen to me. This blog started taking up a lot of space in my brain. Too much, because it started to get hard for me to think about anything else. Now I'm feeling like a few weeks off has been good for me, and I am excited to get back in the swing of things. I won't be updating everyday, but I will use this space for what it has been from the beginning: A place for me to say what I think. And I've had a lot on my mind lately: The Supreme Court firefighter decision and the term "anti-racist" just to name two.

Another one of the things that I've been thinking is that it would be unwise for me to let the potential bump that would come from a shoutout on a blog much more popular than mine go to waste. So if you're visiting me for the first time from Macon's blog and are looking for a more comprehensive definition of the word racish, you should click here..

About Me

Hello, I'm the mastermind behind myblackfriendsays.com. I am a 35 year-old black woman with a Masters degree in Multicultural Counseling, an (expired) Mensa membership card, and a freakishly large knowledge of all things pop culture.
I started this blog because I love talking about race and inequality, and I bet more people would love talking about them too--if they weren't so afraid someone was going to punch them in the stomach for saying the wrong thing. This is a place to get people thinking, get people talking, and most importantly, to eventually get people doing things that will help us make real progress when it comes to the subjects of race and inequality in America.

If you would like to contact me for any reason (fan mail, hate mail, multimedia development deal,) you can email me: myblackfriend atmyblackfriendsaysdotcom.
Thanks for stopping by, and I hope to see you again soon.